Soccer-Sanchez Flores named Shanghai Shenhua coach

HONG KONG, Dec 25 (Reuters) - Former Watford and Espanyol manager Quique Sanchez Flores has been named as the new head coach of Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua, the club said on Tuesday.

The Spaniard replaces Wu Jingui, who takes over as sporting director after steering Shenhua to victory in the Chinese FA Cup in 2017.

Sanchez Flores has not worked since April, when he was dismissed by Spanish side Espanyol after almost two years at the helm. The former Real Madrid and Spain defender makes the move to China having also previously coached Watford in England’s Premier League, Benfica in Portugal and clubs in the United Arab Emirates.

The 53-year-old will be expected to improve Shenhua’s Chinese Super League prospects after a seventh-place finish last season, when the club finished 30 points adrift of first-time champions Shanghai SIPG. (Reporting by Michael Church; Editing by Hugh Lawson)